That's football at its best.

A tiny girl hoped to enjoy the final match but slept before it got started. Being awake she asked her father, "What about the final match, Dad? I'll enjoy it". "After four years" replied her father. Well, in the same way, football fans have to sleep up to 2010.

Really, there was a sensation throughout the world that came to an end on 10 July, albeit its hilarity had ended after the farewell of top favourites Brazil and Argentina. Though I am not a supporter of France I appreciated the impressive performance of Zidane. Accordingly, his fans like me had been in a fluster at the sight of his being sent off. However, the worldwide curiosity and love for football eclipsed everything else.

May the feelings of World Cup football always prevail in our minds so that we forget hatred and malice!

M A Swift, On e-mail

Finally, the greatest show of earth came to an end and the Italians showed their ultimate vigour, courage and willpower to achieve the unforgettable victory. It was really great. From the beginning of the World Cup, Italy played very well and they always showed that they had a huge chance to be the ultimate winners. Though there were lots of other favourite teams, there was something special in the Azzuries. The tactics of their coach and the hard work of players are really commendable. They always kept a compact defence and a very fierce offence, which definitely had the power to shatter the defence of any team. The midfield was also a combination of aesthetic beauty and power, which helped them to have more ball possession. They won the Cup that they deserved. The cacophony of applause in the city of Berlin, as well as the whole world, was not unexpected at all.

Shoaib M. Siddiqui Elephant Road, Dhaka